System for thermal management of a generator

Abstract

An electrical generation system for a vehicle includes a vehicle having a generator for producing electric current. The vehicle has a cavity having a fan and a radiator. The radiator is in fluid communication with the generator to allow a temperature of the generator to be controlled. An air inlet passage extends through a wall of the vehicle and is configured to direct air from outside the vehicle toward an inlet side of the radiator to provide increased static pressure of the air to the inlet side of the radiator compared to an ambient pressure of the air when the vehicle is in motion.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electrical generation system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle having a generator for producing electric current:   the vehicle having a cavity having a fan and a radiator;   the radiator in fluid communication with the generator to allow a temperature of the generator to be controlled; and   an air inlet passage through a wall of the vehicle configured to direct air from outside the vehicle toward an inlet side of the radiator to provide an increased static pressure of the air to the inlet side of the radiator compared to an ambient pressure of the air when the vehicle is in motion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the passage comprises a first end on an outside surface of the wall and a second end in the interior cavity, wherein the first end is smaller than the second end such that air flowing from the first end to the second end increases in static pressure and decreases in kinetic pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fan and the radiator are connected to each other and the fan is configured to direct air through the radiator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the passage comprises a first louver of a plurality of louvers extending through the wall of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle comprises a roof having a roof cavity receiving the generator, the radiator and the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a fuel source received in the roof cavity and in fluid communication with the generator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wall comprises a side longitudinal wall of a top of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a cover attached to the top of the vehicle covering the fuel source. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising side passages bounded by the wall and the fuel source on opposite longitudinal sides of the fuel source to direct air from a front end of the vehicle into the interior cavity toward the radiator located behind the fuel source toward a rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wall comprises a cover attached to the top of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wall comprises a side of the vehicle below a roof 
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a temperature of an electrical generator, comprising:
 connecting an electrical generator in a vehicle to a radiator in the vehicle via a conduit to provide fluid communication between the electrical generator and the radiator to allow the radiator to cool the electrical generator via a flow of fluid between the electrical generator and the radiator;   flowing air from an outside of the vehicle to an inlet side of the radiator through an air inlet passage of the vehicle to provide an increased static pressure of the air to the inlet side of the radiator compared to an ambient pressure of the air when the vehicle is in motion.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the passage comprises a first end on an outside surface of the wall and a second end inside the vehicle, wherein the first end is smaller than the second end such that air flowing from the first end to the second end increases in static pressure and decreases in kinetic pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a fan and the radiator are connected to each other and the fan is configured to direct air through the radiator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the passage comprises a first louver of a plurality of louvers extending through the wall of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the vehicle comprises a roof having a roof cavity receiving the generator, the radiator and the fan. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a fuel source received in the roof cavity and in fluid communication with the generator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising directing air through side passages bounded by a wall of the vehicle and the fuel source on opposite longitudinal sides of the fuel source to direct air from a front end of the vehicle toward the radiator located behind the fuel source toward a rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A system for controlling a temperature of an electrical generator, comprising:
 a radiator in a vehicle coupled to an electrical generator in the vehicle via a conduit to provide fluid communication between the electrical generator and the radiator to allow the radiator to cool the electrical generator via a flow of fluid between the electrical generator and the radiator; and   an air inlet passage of the vehicle configured to direct air from an outside of the vehicle to an inlet side of the radiator to provide an increased static pressure of the air to the inlet side of the radiator compared to an ambient pressure of the air when the vehicle is in motion.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising a fan located in the vehicle in front of the radiator to direct air to the inlet side of the radiator.